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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

Can you let it a cat who won’t come when called?

26 replies

MissIndecisive2023 · 05/05/2024 08:18

I’ve got 2 kittens who are 6 months old. One will do anything for the rustle of a treat bag and will sometimes come if called, the other one doesn’t seem to know his name at all and has no call response.

They have now been neutered and microchipped and are allowed to go out - but how am I going to get them to come home if they don’t respond to their names being called?!

Do I just need to practice loads in the house and give them loads of praise and chicken when they come to their name being called?

OP posts:
BarrelOfOtters · 05/05/2024 08:21

You can try it…

what we did was only let them out at first when they were hungry.

our cat rarely responds to his name or treat packet rustling, he’s old now but he’s always been like that. He comes if he wants to.

Pipperleen · 05/05/2024 08:25

Most of ours would come if they heard the treat packet but often they have been too far away to hear it.
We have had a few cats over the years and a couple of house moves. We have let them out by going in the garden with them a few times and bringing them back in and then eventually, they hop over the fence whilst you’re there, you worry if they’re ever going to come back but they always do! I think you’ve got to remember that they want to come back - they aren’t going outside with the intention of running away.

moonlitmaze · 05/05/2024 08:25

Cats will come home when they want to, not when you want them to.

Original poster
MissIndecisive2023 · 05/05/2024 08:28

Argh this makes me feel extremely anxious!!! I’ve had cats before and yes you are right they have always come back. I just haven’t felt this anxious before. I’ll try and get them used to the cat flap so at least they can get back in if they do disappear for longer than I’d like them to!

OP posts:
maudelovesharold · 05/05/2024 08:29

My cat comes to the whistle! I think he must associate it with food. Can’t remember how it started, I didn’t train him or anything, it just happened naturally. The only time it doesn’t work is if I’m whistling outside like a loon, not realising that he’s already in the house, having found himself a comfy snoozing spot!

Bumblebeeinatree · 05/05/2024 09:27

Kittens are always worrying. I remember chasing ours all round the garden trying to get them to come in at night. They thought this was a great game!

Keiki · 05/05/2024 09:45

They are cats, they will come when they want or not. Mostly when they are hungry, or it starts raining. They will quickly learn meal times when they've missed out on a few.

Original poster
MissIndecisive2023 · 05/05/2024 09:46

They have figured out the cat flap but they are very annoyed that I’ve locked it shut now as I need to go out and don’t want to let them be outside whilst I’m not here.

The cat that doesn’t come back to his name being called did venture over several walls but did come back (in his own time). Phew. The other one can’t jump over the fence yet which in a way is good but once he does manage to get over I worry he won’t be able to get back!!

OP posts:
SiobhanSharpe · 05/05/2024 09:55

As soon as we let our kittens out into the garden we trained them to come back by loudly shaking or rustling the packet of food (actually started doing it inside the house) and it generally worked well.
The one time it didn't was in the early days when a kitten climbed a tree right up to the very top where it was very spindly, and sat there miaowing piteously until DH put a ladder up, climbed up whereupon she hopped over his head and ran down it.

TroysMammy · 05/05/2024 10:00

Whatever you do don't call treats yum yums. I made that mistake and feel a proper twat shouting it if Haribo is taking ages to respond to his name.

A previous cat would come running when I jangled my keys. He wouldn't be far away to hear them.

IsadoraQuagmire · 05/05/2024 10:07

I've never known a cat that would reliably come whenever called, even though they know their own name and know perfectly well why you're calling it.

Girliefriendlikespuppies · 05/05/2024 10:30

Cats are creatures of convenience and comfort so they will come back when they want a comfy bed to sleep on and a bowl of food.

I've had cats all my life and they've always come back.

op I would start by leaving the back door open so they have the chance to explore the garden with you around. I like seeing them go outside for the first time, everything is new and exciting for them 🐈‍⬛

Gettingbysomehow · 05/05/2024 10:33

Cats only respond if they want to. Mostly they can't be bothered. 😂

fieldsofbutterflies · 05/05/2024 10:40

I don't let my cats off my property - we have a cat-proofed garden that they have 24-7 access to but they can't go any further.

I've heard too many stories of kittens (and adults) getting lost, hurt or killed on the roads for it to be a risk I'm happy to take with mine.

PercyPhelps · 05/05/2024 10:48

Teach them to respond to a whistle. When you put out food whistle and then the cat associates the whistle with food. I’ve also found it helpful when I need to locate children/DH somewhere busy as they also respond! It’s a family whistle.

Davros · 05/05/2024 10:57

I say this often on here - TRAIN THEM!
Pair a distinctive sound (bell, gong etc) with a special treat. We use Thrive which are expensive but the tube lasts ages under this regime.
Whenever they hear the sound they MUST have a treat. Even if you've rung it by mistake, moved it on the shelf etc. whenever they get a treat they MUST hear the sound. So, if someone, e.g. visiting family, wants to give them a treat the bell MUST be rung. The two things must always be paired and reserved for calling them in or from upstairs or, god forbid, if they get lost.
Our cat is nearly 17 and this has worked like a charm. There have been occasions when she escaped out the front door and we searched the local area with the bell and treats. Another time she was scared by a dog and hid so well that we couldn't find her but the bell and treats worked.

Princessfluffy · 05/05/2024 11:14

My cats have incredible recall.
If I call their name they will immediately come running as fast as they can.

I always call their names when I put their food bowls down and also if I give them treats. I've had them since kittens so I'm not sure if this would work on older cats. I drilled them when young as I was paranoid about them getting lost.

SoupDragon · 05/05/2024 11:18

My cats virtually teleport to my side when I shake the box of Dreamies. I just kept doing it and they got Dreamies (actually Sainsbury's own version).

Elieza · 05/05/2024 11:20

I second training with a sound per posts above, and a treat every single time.

Preferably use a sound nobody else will use, so there's no way they will mistakenly run to someone else.

I used to shout pusspuss repeatedly. In a high pitched stupid voice that nobody in their right mind would use!

It worked really well. I'd hear bin lids clattering and their collar bells jingling as they rushed towards me from their wandering, salivating!

They were nine months and took to it really quickly. I did it at meal times too. So they thought pusspuss = some kind of dinner or treat.

Good luck.

DeclineandFall · 05/05/2024 11:23

One of mine would only come back if I banged a fork against the side of a tuna tin. Had to be a tuna any other tin he wasn't interested. He wasn't very smart but v tuna driven. His brother would just turn up if I called his name. He was the brains of the operation. They are a worry when they are kittens off let out in the big world

Beamur · 05/05/2024 11:26

Are the kittens well bonded?
Mine are and this helps get them in - if I can get one in, the other reliably follows within a few minutes. I'd second a high pitched whistle, they come running for DH, he has a special cat summoning whistle which seems to work on all cats!

Beamur · 05/05/2024 11:27

Train them that when you make a certain noise, they get a treat. Do this for a while before you let them out.

softslicedwhite · 05/05/2024 11:57

My 6 month old kitten won't come in if I call him, but if my 5yo DD calls him he comes straight away. So if there are other people in your house try them!

Oldraver · 05/05/2024 12:16

Because I had two together I got used to calling 'kitties' and was amazed they responded really well to this

The kitty call is always saved for when we want them un

lljkk · 05/05/2024 12:29

Most cats are highly territorial & come back to safe spaces they like & know. Not coming when called would irk me but I'd still let him out.